Black Tomato has launched a ‘joyful’ collection of group experiences that are designed to bring people together at a specific place and point in time. Jenny Southan reports
Luxury adventure travel company Black Tomato says it has had a long-held belief that some experiences are “exponentially more meaningful and memorable when shared with those you love”.
This has inspired Black Tomato to review the best and worst parts of group travel and to develop a new innovative range of pick-and-mix experiences called “See You in the Moment“, which take place at a specific place and point in time.
Working with partners around the world, Black Tomato has curated a collection of more than 30 “remarkable travel moments”, which can be incorporated into existing or newly created Black Tomato itineraries. They are categorised by: The Meal, The Event, The Challenge, The Journey and The Celebration.
Rather than booking a restaurant or private chef for a birthday dinner, Black Tomato suggests organising a gourmet banquet (The Meal) inside Iceland’s Thrihnukagigur volcano crater, illuminated by a thousand candles.
For a VIP bonanza, Black Tomato can take groups to Italy for Siena’s famous biannual Palio horse race (The Event) where they will watch the medieval spectacle from a private balcony overlooking the Piazza del Campo.
Alternatively, a group might want to embark on an expedition down the Apurimac River (The Challenge), through the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley, where they will navigate the otherwise inaccessible Ancient Valley of the Incas by raft, staying at “mind-blowing” luxury campsites along the way.
Tom Marchant, co-founder, Black Tomato, says: “Serving as an antidote to over-scheduled, time-poor stressors that pervade our busy lives, ‘See You in the Moment’ encourages being fully present in the moment with others; being mindful, which by design is innately therapeutic.
“At Black Tomato, we have a deep understanding of the psychology of travel, pioneering travel experiences designed to be transformative and bring lasting impact, from getting lost (Get Lost) to find yourself in Mongolia, to harnessing travel as a self-improvement tool, with Bring it Back.
“Ultimately, we believe these unforgettable shared experiences foster a profound sense of belonging and togetherness, bonding a group by becoming part of their shared narrative. While some moments can still be enjoyed as a couple, there are some that are so much better with more people, when ten years on you just have to look at a friend and there’s an immediate connection from the past that keeps you reminiscing together down the line.”
While Black Tomato has long excelled in executing group trips, the new range of “shared moments” are hoped to appeal to families and friends who want to “connect and commit to carving out time to do more incredible things together with those who matter”.
Black Tomato says: “In looking at how we curate and optimise group travel, which is traditionally defined by compromise, from a practical perspective, a core innovation of ‘See You in the Moment’ is bringing everyone together for a celebratory moment, made all the more poignant and captivating when shared with others, but allowing everyone’s individual needs to be met via bespoke itineraries.
“Crucially, this flexible and customised approach, which removes common friction from the inherent challenges and frequent pain points of group travel, is driven from years of hearing about myriad challenges when clients attempt to organise group trips themselves, with one set itinerary for all.”
Here are some examples of See You In The Moment experiences:
The Meal: Dining under the midnight sun in the Lofotens, Norway
The Event: Discovering the Lost Songkran, Thailand
The Challenge: An expedition to the last extremity of The Andes, Peninsula Mitre, Argentina
The Journey: Exploring untouched oceans surrounding Poor Knight Islands, New Zealand
The Celebration: Ring in the New Year with a Celtic Celebration, Scotland